Andal–Sainthia branch line

The Andal–Sainthia branch line is a railway line connecting Andal on the Bardhaman–Asansol section of the Howrah–Delhi Main Line and Sainthia Junction on the Sahibganj Loop. This 73 kilometres (45 mi) track is under the jurisdiction of Eastern Railway. This track passes through the north-eastern part of the Raniganj Coalfield in Bardhaman district and the western part of Birbhum district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Andal–Sainthia branch line
Andal railway station and Sainthia railway station
Overview
Type	Diesel-electric
System	Broad gauge
Status	Operational
Locale	West Bengal
Termini	Andal Sainthia Junction
Stations	15
Operation
Opened	1913
Owner	Indian Railway
Operator(s)	Eastern Railway
Technical
Line length	73 km (45 mi)
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Broad gauge
Operating speed	up to 100 km/h (62 mph)
Route map Raniganj Coalfield colliery km km Andal Junction 00 Bardhaman–Asansol section National Highway 19 (Grand Trunk Road) 8 Sonachara Kunustoria Colliery 12 Tapasi 15 Ikra Sripur Colliery 20 Jamuria former Ikrah–Churulia– Rupnarayanpur loop line Singaran River 27 Barabani National Highway 19 (Grand Trunk Road) planned connection to Churulia Churulia Gaurangdi Harishpur Rupnarayanpur Asansol–Patna section Kajoragram 05 33 Chinchuria (halt) Siduli 10 to Asansol Junction Sitalpur Colliery 41 Sitarampur Ukhra 12 to Patna │ to Gaya Pandaveswar Airfield (abandoned) Khottadih Open Cast Project South Samla Colliery Pandabeswar 20 Ajay river Bhimgara Junction 23 29 Hazaratpur Hinglo River 33 Raswan Panchra 29 37 Barhragram Dubrajpur 35 42 Lachmanpur Road Bakreshwar River 49 Palashthali Chinpai 42 Bakreshwar Thermal Power Station Kachujor 45 Siuri 54 to Prantik (planned) Kunuri 63 Mahishadahari(halt) 66 Sahibganj loop 73 Sainthia Junction km km

This track serves Bakreshwar Thermal Power Station.

History

The Andal–Sainthia branch line was built in 1913.[1]

Branch lines

There are two branch lines in this section. The first is the Andal–Barabani–Sitarampur section.[2] The other is the Bhimgara-Palasthali Branch Line. Service on this line was suspended for safety reasons. The track became unfit because of unauthorized mining under the track.[3]

Electrification

Electrification of Andal–Pandabeshwar section was completed in 2010–11.[4] Electrification of the Pandabeshwar-Sainthia section was sanctioned in the rail budget for 2011–12, which is expected to be completed till 2013 and completed in 2016.[5]

References

1. Saxena, R.P. "Indian Railway History Time line". Irse.bravehost.com. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
2. "List of Stations on Asansol Division". Eastern Railway. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
3. Time Table, July 2005, Eastern Zone
4. "Electrification work in progress by CORE: Progress during the year 2010–11". Central Organisation for Railway Electrification. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
5. "Electrification of new rail sections". Press information Bureau. Retrieved 28 November 2011.